Tank cap



May 29, 1923.

J. A. REASONER TANK CAP Filed April 22 1922 JAMES A. Fawn Ei- JAMES A.REASONER, OF ATHENS, OHIO.

TANK GAP.

Application filed April 22, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. REASONER, a citizen of the l nited States.residing at Athens, in the county of Athens and btate of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Tank ap, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a tank cap especially useful upongasoline or fuel tanks used upon automobiles and other like vehicles andhas for its principal object to provide a cap which may be lockedagainst unauthorized removal so that the contents of the tank to whichthe cap is attached may not be removed or replenished.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cap of thisnature including a safety valve so that the cap will normally be closedexcept when liquid is actually being poured therethrouigh thuseliminating the danger of explosions and at the same time preventingdust or undesirable particles from passing through the r further objectof the invention is to provide a ca tremely simple and efiicient inconstruction, reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture,durable, andwell adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as thedescrip tion progresses, the invention resides in certain novel featuresof construction, and the will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cap embodying myinvention showing the same positioned on a portion of a tank,

Figure 2 is a section taken therethrough substantially on the line 2-2of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the cap, and

Figure 4 is a detailed section taken substantially on the line 44 ofFigure 1 lookin in the direction of the arrow. v

Tieferring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that a portion of atank 1 has been disclosed which is provided with the usual threadedopening 2 for receiving a plug cap. My improved cap consists of acircular body portion 3 having an interior annular roove land a reducedthreaded portion 5 t e interior of which is curved so as to be SerialNo. 555,966.

thicker intermediate its ends thereby forming a seat for the removablecap 6 and the lunged valve plate 7. A recess 8 is provided interior-1yof the reduced portion 5 for receivlng a pin 9 to which is hinged thevalve plate 7 which is normally held in a closed position by theU-shaped spring 10 the terminals of which terminate in coils 11 that arewrapped about this hinged pin 9.

A bolt 12 extends centrally through the removable cap and supports aspring retaining element 13 which extends diametrically across the capand has its terminals curved so as to normally seat within the groove 3as is indicated to advantage in Figure 2. A coil eye 14 is provided inthis retaining element between one of its terminals and its mid portionso that it may be lifted and the end disengaged from the groove 4 whenit is desired to remove the cap. The intermediate portion of thisretaining element is coiled about the bolt 12.

An enlargement 17 is formed on the curved periphery of the body 3 andhouses a .lock indicated at 18 which-lock is provided of this naturewhich will be exwith 'aninwardly extending bolt 19 and an outwardlyextending bolt 20. The outwardly extending bolt 2O is adapted to engagea keeper 21 on the tank 1 while the in 'wardlyextending bolt 19 isadapted to project through the groove 4 and engage over top theremovable cap 6 thereby preventing -unauthorized removal thereof fromits seat fin the body 3. combination and arrangement of parts as On theupper side of the body 3 I have arranged a plurality of projections 23so-that the cap may be easily screwed and unscrewed in and out ofengagement with the tank when desired and of course this can only bedone when the lock 18 is actuated so as to remove the inner bolt 19. Thecap 6 may now be readily removed by disengaging the spring retainingelement 13 in the manner previously indicated. The advantage of thisspring retaining element is that should the authorized person fail toactuate the lock 18 so that the bolt 19 would engage the removable capit would readily be held from accidental replacement by this springretaining element. After the removable cap has been disengaged from itsseat and entirely" removed, liquid may now readily be poured through thecap since the weight of the liquid will be suilicient to pressdownwardly upon the valve plate 7 thus allowing the liquid to readilyflow into the tank. This spring 10, however, will close the valve plate7 immediately upon the flow of liquid ceasing so as to prevent dust orother undesirable particles'from blowing through the cap and it willalso prevent a flame or a burning match or hot ashes from being droppedinto the tank by careless or thoughtless persons. I have provided boththe removable cap 6 and the valve plate 7 with suitable vents 24 and 25so that the liquid in the tank may readily flow therefrom to authorizedchannels.

Although I have described my cap with some degree of particularity, itis to be readily appreciated that this structure has merely beendisclosed by way of example and that numerous changes in construction,and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted toWithout departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:-

l. A tank cap of the class described comprising a body portion ofcircular formation and having an internal groove, a reduced threadedportion on the body, a bulge provided on the interior of the reducedthreaded portion, a valve hinged in the reduced portion so as tonormally seat on said bulge, means for holding the valve in a closedposition, a removable cap seatable on said bulge, and means for holdingthe cap in engagement with the bulge, said means comprising a-springelement having its intermediate portion attached to the cap and itsterminal engageable with said groove.

2. A tank cap of the class described including a body portion havingmeans so that the same may be removably attached to a tank, a valve inthe body portion means for normally holding the valve closed, aremovable cap associated with the body portions, spring means forholding the cap in the body portion and preventing accidentaldisplacement thereof, and positive locking means for preventingdisplacement of the body portion and also the cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

JAMES A. REASO ER.

